By Benard Akoma 01/10/24
The conference hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja was filled to capacity, September 30, 2024. The event was the reception ceremony in honour of Barrister Roy Nwaeze Umahi. Umahi was conferred with the prestigious rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN.
He became the first in the entire old Ohaozara local government comprising three local councils now of Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha local government Areas to be bestowed with such honor. He actually completes the number of senior Advocates from Ebonyi State to three.
A brother to the immediate past governor of Ebonyi State and current federal minister of works, Senator David Umahi, the audience was made up of prominent politicians. Present were the national chairman of All Progress Congress, APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, current and immediate past deputy governors of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Patricia Obila and Barrister Kelechi Igwe respectively including the representative of Enugu state governor.
Anyim Pius Anyim, former senate president who was the chairman of the occasion and himself a lawyer said that Barrister Umahi was made a SAN as a result of his hard work. According to him, “before you are conferred with the honour of a SAN in the Nigeria legal profession, you must have distinguished yourself in legal practices.”
Reeling out the pedigree of Barrister Umahi, Anyim stated, “Roy is widely regarded as an accomplished litigator and legal scholar with diverse and extensive portfolio of cases.” Continuing, he said, “Roy has represented a broad spectrum of clients including political parties, multinational corporations, public officials and state governments.”
As encomiums continue to pour on Barrister Umahi, his elder brother, genereal Abel Umahi retired said, “it was not surprise to me that Roy is being conferred with the rank of SAN, this is someone I know who sacrifices every other thing for law books.” General Umahi stated that SANship honor to Roy is long overdue describing his law chamber as one of the richest in the country.
Meanwhile the governor of Ebonyi state, Francis Nwifuru represented by his deputy described the honour as one for the state. According to him, the SANship of Barrister Umahi is an elevation for the state. Senator Umahi, Roy’s elder brother said, the latest SAN in town, “is not just my brother, he is also a son on whom I am well pleased with.” Barrister Roy in appreciation said that since he realized that the only thing that will qualify you to be called a general is to get to the apex of your profession, he never looked back until that dream is achieved. Teasing his elder brother, General Umahi, he enthused, “I am now a civilian general.” He however promised to remain humble and never take the trust reposed on him for granted.
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